Attaching means for interchangeable letters of initial rings or the like



C. BIRNBAUM Filed July 31, 1951 S j v m 2 m Sept. 13, 1932.

ATTACHING' MEANS FOR INTERCHANGEABLE LETTERS OF INITIAL RINGS OR THE LIKE WITNESSES Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE CHARLES BIRNBAUM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ATTACHING MEANS FOR INTERGHANGEABLE Lnrrnns or INITIAL RINGS on THELIKE Application filed m 31,

This invention relates to jewelry, such as rings, brooches, ornaments for pocket books, brief cases or the like, and has more particularreference to an improved means for detachably connecting initials or other ornamental characters to a backing member or base wherebysaid initials or characters may 'bereadily applied and removed to facilitate interchanging thereof. 7 V

The invention aims for some of its objects toprovide an attaching means of the indicated character which is simple, inexpensive, effective and by virtue of which the inter changing of initials or other characters may be expeditiously accomplished. m

Vith the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which there is exhibited one example or our bodiment of theinvention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a face View illustrating a backing member having the initials detachably secured thereto through the medium of an attaching means constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear View thereof.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4- is a sectional view taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line a4iof Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a collective perspective view illustrating the intercngaging means of connection betwen the characters.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference A designates generally the backing member or base, which may be of metal, precious or semi-precious stone or any other suit able material which may constitute a part of a ring, a brooch, a pocket book or brief case ornament or any other similar article of jewelry. The initials or other ornamental characters, designated generally by the reference character 13, are adapted to be secured to the front face of the backing member or base A for ornamenting the same, and the present invention particularly resides in the im 1931; Serial No. 554,349.

proved means for detachably connecting said initials or characters whereby they may be readily interchanged and wherein they are held in place by unobtrusive anchoring means which effectually prevents their accidental or unintentional separation or relative move- 1131161111 with respect to the backing member or ase.

In the particular form of the invention illustrated, the backing member or base A has permanently and rigidly secured thereto a raised part 10, which in the present instance is disclosed as an ornament but which may be an initial or other character and which is secured in place by an integral hollow rivet 11 extending through the thickness of the backing member and base, and which raised part defines angularly related shoulders 12 perpendicular to the front face of the backing member or base. The under or confronting side of the part is formed with notches or channels 13 opening through the shoulders 12 and defining recesses or apertures extending in a plane parallel to thefront face of the member A.

Where a plurality of initials or characters B is to be attached to the front face of the ymember A, one of said characters or initials is provided with a rearwardly projecting hollow stud let having an interiorly threaded bore15, and which stud is approximately of a length corresponding to the thickness of the backing member or base A, to be received by an opening 16 extending through the thickness of the member A from its front to its rear face. A screw including a threaded shank 17 and an enlarged kerfed head 18 is designed to have said threaded shank screwed into the threaded bore of the stud with the head 18 7 bearing against the rear face of the member A. In order to prevent turning movement and to further assist in holding the character B against separation, said character is provided with a finger 19 protruding therefrom acent the lower or inner face thereof and in a plane parallel to thefront face of the backing member A,.the said finger being designed to engage within the aperture 13 of the or more of the fingers 19 maybe used. The

60 ing another of said characters to said backng member, of means extending from the edge of sa d first mentioned character and other initial or character B is likewise pro- 5 necessity of using a second stud 14 on the other initial, use is made of a laterally projecting lug of T-shape or any other suitable equivalent configuration which is designated by the reference character 20 and which is located adjacent the inner face of the initial or 'character for reception in a correspondingly formed recess 21 in the rear face of the first mentioned character or initial B. Obviously, if more than two initials or characters are to be used, one initial or character may be provided with the hollow threaded stud 14 and the remaining initials arranged contiguous .thereto, with the lugs 20 engaging in recesses 21 in the studded initial or character. It is also to be understood that within the scope of the invention, each separate initial or character may be individually provided with a hollow threaded stud and retaining screw.

By providing a detachable means of connection asipreviously set forth, it is apparent that the initials or characters may be readily interchanged so as to correspond to the various combinations desired.

VVhilethere has been illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this is not intended as a limitation, but that variations and modifications which properly fall within-the scope of the claims may be resorted to whendesired.

1 What is claimed is 1. In an article ofjewelry, the combination of a backing member and a plurality of initials or similar ornamental character s adapted to be supported on the front face thereof; means for detachably anchoring said characters to said backing member including an interiorly threaded hollow stud extending from the rear of one of said characters and ably securing said character'upon said back ing member, means for permanently attachengaging in the under side of the other character for preventing relative turning of said characters with respect to each other and with respect to the backing member.

3. In an article of jewelry, the combination with a backing member of a plurality of ornamental characters for decorating the front faceithereof and means extending from the rear of one of said characters through the thickness of said member for detachably securing said character upon said backing member, of means protruding from the edge of the other of said characters for locking engagement with the first mentioned character to secure said other character on the backing member and to prevent relative turning movement thereof.

4. In an article of jewelry, the combination with abacking member, of'a} plurality of ornamental characters for decorating the front face, means permanently securing one of the characters to the backing member, means extending from the rear of a second of said characters through the thickness of said member for detachably securing said CHARLES BIRNBAUM. 

